Trick Or Treat: A City Council Issue?

Are you crazy about trick or treating? Do you love sitting outside for hours with cold fingers and toes handing out candy to babies and small kids whose parents will probably end up eating most of their goodies? Do you go absolutely insane for the massive amount of screaming, sugar-high children now flooding your neighborhood? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be one of the many disappointed to learn that Halloween is set to be ruined by rainy weather. You may be even more distraught to learn that the city of Shelbyville will continue to observe trick or treating on the actual day of Halloween instead of moving it to the 30th like many surrounding cities.

Unfortunately, trick or treating will never be moved by the city, so it’s best to start mentally preparing for the rain now. The City of Shelbyville has an ordinance in place that states that trick or treating in the city is permitted on October 31st, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and that the only time trick or treating is permitted on the 30th is when Halloween falls on Sunday. Even if the apocalypse was set to fall on Halloween, you would still have to trick or treat from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the 31st. While it seems like a trivial and almost unnecessary hard and fast rule, don’t expect it to change anytime soon. Our city council is the body of government that handles our city ordinances, including the observation of Halloween trick or treating, and more than likely they are concerned with slightly more pressing matters in our city. However, if the idea of being forced to trick or treat every year on actual Halloween, even in the rain, then you may consider running for city council.

To get an ordinance changed or removed, you have to go through city council. However, city council only meets twice a month and they have a plethora of other issues to discuss, many more important than an ordinance about a holiday that happens once a year. But, if you’re hard-pressed to get the observation of trick or treating modified, or anything else changed, the easiest way is to get onto city council. After all, if you want something done right, do it yourself. Running for and being elected to the city council will let you to attempt to make the changes you want to see in the city. It is a great way to get more connected with the community and it will allow you to better understand the actual issues that are facing our city. Whether you are motivated by keeping trick or treating out of the rain, or by a desire to truly improve our city, consider running for city council. At the very least get familiar with your members and who is running next election as well as attend public hearings to voice your opinions. Be the change you want to see, even if it’s getting a silly Halloween ordinance changed.